MSc Thesis Internship — Neuroinflammation in Microgravity
Location: House of BioHealth, Luxembourg
Type: Full-time MSc Thesis Internship
What happens to an astronaut's brain in space? Astronauts return from long missions with signs of accelerated inflammation and cognitive change – the same early warning signs seen in Alzheimer's disease. Not because they are sick, but because even the healthiest humans on the planet cannot fully prepare for something the body was never designed to face: life without gravity.
Weightlessness activates a molecular alarm system inside immune cells and disrupts the machinery that clears damaged proteins. Processes that take years to go wrong on Earth unfold in weeks in space. That makes microgravity a tool rather than a threat – a natural accelerator for studying brain disease.
You bring: bioinformatics or systems biology, Python/R, and an appetite for stem cells, machine learning, and space.
Responsibilities
Culture and maintain human immune cell lines carrying fluorescent reporters for inflammatory pathways.
Run simulated microgravity experiments and design the matched ground controls that make the results interpretable.
Quantify inflammatory activation using live-cell imaging and complementary molecular assays.
Screen candidate compounds for their ability to dampen inflammatory activation under simulated microgravity.
Analyse, visualise, and document your data to a standard that supports both your thesis and a peer-reviewed publication.
Contribute to assay development and miniaturisation with the OHTS platform in mind, working alongside the engineering team.
Requirements
Currently enrolled in a master's program in neuroscience, cell biology, biotechnology, immunology, pharmacology, or a related field, with a thesis project to complete.
Hands-on sterile cell culture experience.
Familiarity with standard molecular and cell biology techniques — fluorescence microscopy, plate-based assays, Western blot, qPCR, or flow cytometry.
Comfort with quantitative data: image analysis, basic statistics, and dose–response thinking.
Curiosity, care, and the patience for experiments that need to be repeated properly.
Ability to work independently while maintaining regular communication with the team.
nice to have
Experience with inflammasome biology, or neuroinflammation models.
Exposure to simulated microgravity hardware (clinostat, random positioning machine, rotating wall vessel).
Image analysis in ImageJ/Fiji, CellProfiler, or scripting in Python or R.
Interest in automation, lab robotics, or assay miniaturisation.
join ouR team!
Why EXOBIOSPHERE?
Innovative Environment: Join a forward-thinking team where your organizational skills and expertise will support groundbreaking discoveries. We foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
Strategic Location: Work at the House of BioHealth in Luxembourg, a premier biotech hub offering state-of-the-art facilities and a vibrant community of like-minded professionals.
Professional Growth: We are committed to your career development, providing ample opportunities for advancement and professional growth in the exciting field of space-based drug discovery.
Competitive Packages: We offer attractive compensation packages, including benefits and incentives, designed to reward your hard work and dedication.
Collaborative Culture: Be part of a supportive and collaborative team that values diverse perspectives and works together to achieve ambitious goals.
Global Impact: Contribute to pioneering research that has the potential to transform healthcare and improve lives worldwide.
This is an unparalleled opportunity to work at the exciting intersection of space and health, where your contributions will have a global impact. We seek passionate and driven individuals who are eager to work hard and be part of our visionary team. We offer competitive packages and a dynamic, collaborative environment at the House of BioHealth in Luxembourg.
Apply Now and Launch Your Career into Space with EXOBIOSPHERE!